NANNM Urges Govt To Expedite Action on Adequate Remuneration of Nurses – Official

By Aderogba George

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the adequate compensation for the health workers in the country to halt ongoing brain draìn.

President of the association, Mr Micheal Nnachi, made this known in Abuja on Friday during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting.

The President spoke on the background of the brain drain challenge which had seen to be a syndrome to the health sector, saying that urgent action needs be taken to avert the trend.

He explained that Nigeria desire to attained Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) might be mirage unless the government supports the Nurses and Midwives.

He, however, advised the nurses and midwives to be persistent in the discharge of their duties and wait for what the government will do between now and first quarters of 2023.

According to him, the nurses and midwives must stay back and be patient, as he believes and hopes that better days are still ahead of the profession.

He disclosed that between 2017 and 2022, over 57, 000 nurses have left the shore of the country to other countries in search of greener pastures, adding that this had continued almost every week.

Nnachi attributed the reasons why medical workers are leaving the country as a result of poor condition of service, lack of welfare packages and insecurity challenges such as kidnapping.

He disclosed that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health was already giving attention to the issue of brain drain but urged the government to hurry up in its action.

Nnachi also spoke on the increment of salary and allowances due for the nurses and midwives, saying that reviews and negotiations are ongoing about the issues.

“On the brain drain challenge, the nurses actually need to be recognised and properly or adequately compensated for the work they are doing to avoid the lingering of this issue.

“The nurses constitute over 50 per cent of the workforce in the health sector, as I speak, a lot of people are leaving the shores of the country, between 2017 and 2022, over 57, 000 nurses have left.

“The reason for all this is because of the poor condition of service, but I believe if the issue of salary is addressed, particularly given the nurses and midwives an enhanced salary package, it will help.

“In this area, the government need not to waste time on it because I am aware that no matter the situation in Nigeria, home is still the best but then what if the home is not conducive, is a factor to push people away.

“Insecurity situation is still an issue, there is one that happened recently, about three nurses have been kidnapped in the last one week, as I speak, they are still under hostage”, he stressed.

Nurse Morakinyo Olajide, National Chairman, Federal Health Institutions Sector, a Pressure group under NANNM noted that the brain will continue if the nurses are still being treated in the manner that is not attractive.

According to him, nurses’ work is enormous but the government is yet to appreciate that.

He said that the nurses are now moving to the United Kingdom, United States of America and others where the profession is more appreciated.

“Nobody wants to leave his or her own comfort zone and go to where you cannot comfortably eat what you like and associate with your people, this is not because they want to travel out but because of the attitude of our leaders.

“The leaders are not giving the nurses what is due for them and this has brought the frustration of going out.

“What could be done to overcome this trend is to appreciate the nurses and Midwives in Nigeria, give them what is due to them, if that is done it will reduce the trend.

“For example across the board, nurses are supposed to get a 30 per cent shift duty allowance, that was even in the circular that was released by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“What is being paid as the shift duty allowance is not up to one per cent of their accumulated salary, you can see that what they are entitled to they are not being given not to talk of the salary that is not enough and you call it take home.

“This take home pay cannot even taken us to the road, school fees are skyrocketing, market prices are increasing every day, look at the fuel, the price has increased,’’ he stressed.

He said that if the price increase on a product is compared with what the nurses take as salary, nothing will be left to sustain the home and that people will go where they will be appreciated. (NAN)
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